Manasseh Was

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭33:1-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭33:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto Him: and He was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭33:10-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Manasseh rebelled against God and his father at an early age. Most would have considered him a lost cause! He had been raised in a house that followed God, but he chose not to and God took him to task. God tried talking to him and the people, but they would not listen. Then God brought disaster upon them. Only then did God have his attention.

Manesseh humbled himself,  cried out to God and God answered him.

"Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.”

Manesseh was just like us. We do evil in the sight of The LORD; all the while God is calling to us but we won't listen! Then catastrophe strikes and we cry out to Him. 

However, unlike Manesseh, we cry out for immediate relief. We do not humble ourselves. We want instantaneous miracles, so we can get back to the way we were! See, we don't think we are evil; in fact we think we are "good!"  And  we demand God come down and take care of the situation believing it is caused by the devil! We never once consider that God brought on this trial/storm to turn us to Him! 

Even though Manesseh started out wrong, in the end, he got it right. 

We all start out wrong and we have our whole life to try and get it right! Some of us take longer than others, but we all have to come to the place of surrender; our will for His!

It's a shame we don't just willingly give up, because we love Him and want to obey Him! It's our unbelief and our stiffnecked and rebellious sin nature that keeps us from walking as we should! We are deceived by a corrupt church; we are ignorant of God's Word; we are too busy with a love for the things of the world to search for The Truth! He has to get us to a place where we will listen and submit in repentance.

God knows what it will take for us to break! 

And I promise you, you will break, for only He is God. 

There is no other!

Repent while there is still time! 

There is work to be done and He needs you!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/9/17